Editor’s Note: This document is a direct copy of a Google Doc titled How to Start a Branch which is part of the Documents for Lords folder in Drive. You can also find these resources on this website over on the Branch Lord Resources page.
So you want to form your own branch in the EMP? That’s awesome. Here are some steps to help you do that. Please reach out with any questions you might have once you’ve read over the following information.
Step 1
Think about what kind of branch you want to form. This means time period, customs, fighting styles (or not, you don’t have to be a fighting branch at all), etc.
Step 2
Look over this link, it details what the various types of branches are, and details information about each level of branch.
Step 3
Each branch must have a Charter. This is a way of setting up the rules for your branch that conform to the rules of the empire, as well as a way of forming your own culture.
Look at charters from other branches. They’re a great starting point for writing your own. This Google Drive folder contains all the Charters for current branches in the Empire; you can also find these on each Branch’s Fiefdom page.
Step 4
Start writing your Charter. Below you’ll find a list of everything that will need to be contained in it.
Name of branch
Heraldry for group: this includes a detailed description as well as a drawing of the heraldry.
A vector drawing of your heraldry is preferable in order to easily add it to various websites.
Editor’s Notes: A few additional tips:
Crop all dead space around the heraldry. This will ensure the heraldry doesn’t display smaller than it should and keep things clean.
If you export a rasterized version, a PNG with transparent background is recommended. Especially for non-rectangular shaped heraldry such as pennant or circular shapes. This ensures that if the heraldry is displayed over a non-white background, there isn’t white spaces where there should not be. There are many online resources and tutorials to learn how to do this.
Location of the branch: this is both in history and in the present day. Each level 1 branch has a 50 mile radius around it that are its ‘lands’. Level 1 branches can overlap lands, so don’t worry if there is another branch nearby. The location can be a person’s house, a major landmark, etc, just make it something that actually exists and can be found on a map.
Purpose of the branch. Why are you forming this branch?
Customs of the branch. What will you be doing that sets you apart? Are you fighters, artists, brewers, cooks, a mix?
Description of leadership of the branch.
How is the leader picked? Trial by combat, voting, some other way?
Will there be more than one?
What will the leader be called? It doesn’t have to be lord/lady, but it does have to be appropriate to the level of branch you are forming.
What are the responsibilities of the leader?
Is there a time limit of leadership? Does it change yearly, every two years?
What happens if leadership is challenged?
The default way of handling challenges in the EMP is by rattan combat, but you can set it up another way as well. It could be a pun off, a chess match, whatever you’d like as long as it follows the rules.
Editors Note: See the EMP’s challenge rules.
Other branch positions.
Is there a council of advisors?
Is there a treasurer? How are funds within the branch tracked?
You can set up almost any positions you want, but you have to also state how those positions are filled, and if there is a time limit on them.
Each branch must have a yearly event. This event does not have to be the same event held each year, but it can be. You can use this event as a way of changing leadership, having a moot, etc.
The event must be submitted to the Kingdom Steward to be put on the calendar in order for it to count.
Step 5
Gather your members. Each branch must have a minimum of 5 members to form and to maintain branch status.
Step 6
Create your website. This can be as simple as a Facebook Page, or as elaborate as you’d like. Use this page to describe who you are, where you are, what you do, etc. It must be public, and have your Charter somewhere on it. You may also have a private page that is just for your members, but you must have a publicly accessible one as well.
Step 7
Write a three sentence or so blurb describing your branch to be put on the Ardesca website for all to know your glory.
Step 8
Create a Google Drive document containing all of this information and share it with the Kingdom Steward.
Step 9
Create a Google Calendar titled with the name of your branch and share it with the Crown of Ardesca email which is CrownofArdesca@gmail.com so that it may be shared on the Kingdom Calendar page. All branch fighter practices, stitch n’ bitches, armor repair days, and the like shall be posted to this calendar, with the Branch name or Initials preceding the title of the event. All other events must still be submitted to the Kingdom Steward via this form.
If you have any questions please reach out to the Steward of Ardesca, Seraphina Delysiae